Southold Elementary School Competes For Project Fit Grant

SOUTHOLD, NY — Students and faculty are abuzz at Southold Elementary School, where efforts are underway to win a $25,000 Project Fit America grant.

The month-long national competition is one that schools across the country participate in; unlike previous grant awards that provided similar equipment for Greenport and Mattituck-Cutchogue Elementary Schools, which was not competitive, the current program requires schools to be in the top tier of votes acquired during the month of January, Southold Schools Superintendent David Gamberg said in a release.

Anyone over the age of 13 can vote each of every day for the remainder of the month of January.

“This is a great way to help promote the health and fitness of our students and the larger Southold

community,” Southold Elementary School Principal Ellen O’Neill said.

Project Fit America is a national non-profit organization that creates and donates fitness in education programming to elementary and middle schools, competition organizers said on the voting page.

"They address self-esteem, fitness and exercise as fun, understanding the body, as well as leadership, sportsmanship and character development," the page said. "They strive to reverse the lack of fitness in youth by giving teachers the tools they need to help children take responsibility for their fitness and embrace healthy lifestyle choices with enthusiasm. . . Project Fit America creates the opportunity for all kids, not just the already gifted athletes, to discover, explore, improve and be recognized for their physical, mental and fitness efforts and performance."

Photo courtesy Southold Schools.